ABS-CBN’s drama series like The Promise (Pangako Sa Yo), Timeless (Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas) and The Long Wait (Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay) are all blockbuster hits in Africa.

“African TV stations broadcast at least one ABS-CBN Philippine telenovela a day while the other TV stations air two to three times a week,” says Reena de Guzman-Garingan, International Sales and Distribution Director at ABSCBN Broadcasting Corporation. “There are channels that have been broadcasting two Philippine telenovelas from Monday to Friday and another one on Saturdays and Sundays. In countries like Kenya, Cameroon and Tanzania at least two networks are currently airing ABS-CBN Philippine telenovelas, which always consist in 45-to-50-minute episodes,” explains the executive.

Kristine Hermosa is now a superstar in Africa as the continent was hit by Philippine telenovela craze, spawning websites and fan clubs.

“Our telenovelas are the hot items in foreign newspapers; there’s the case of a TV station in Africa that delayed its launch hoping to have the Philippine telenovela stars to grace their celebration. The Philippine telenovela business in Africa is a phenomenon and has captured advertising revenues never achieved before by the networks,” states de Guzman-Garingan.

So why does Africa embrace Philippine stories? The executive said it’s because of the mixture of distinct facial features on the screen, ranging from Asian to Spanish, and also explains that due to the infusion of multicultural context, they have captured both female and male audiences. During the World Cup month, the time slots of The Promise, Timeless, The Long Wait and other ABS-CBN’s telenovelas airing on various networks across Africa were pre-empted. As a result, the male audience was warned by their wives of having no meals on their tables for not having their favorite Philippine telenovela on air.

View Story (starmometer.com)

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This series was shown in the following countries with a title "the promise(pangako sa'yo), timeless/i wish it would never end(sana'y wala ng wakas), the long wait(kay tagal kang hinintay)":

Work stops. Meetings are adjourned. Staff and top honchos alike rush home to watch “Pangako sa Yo” (The Promise), “Sana’y Wala nang Wakas” (Timeless) and other ABS-CBN teleseryes. They are so hooked they do not dare miss a single episode. And this phenomenon is happening not in the Philippines—but across Asia, especially in Malaysia, Europe, and Africa, where various ABS-CBN series are being shown.

“’[Pangako Sa Yo]’ has made a name in my country,” wrote Malaysian viewer Tania in a website created by fans of ABS-CBN shows. According to fellow viewers, they have watched many other soap operas from other countries but they were moved with any of those like ‘The Promise’ did. “The soap has beaten all other soaps we have watched here in Zambia!,” affirms Hildah, another loyal viewer. This audience does not understand Tagalog, and they knew none of our stars at first but now they are self-proclaimed big fans of Filipino actors and actresses, especially of the Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa love team.

And now, Philippine TV’s drama princess Judy Ann Santos and teleserye queen Claudine Barretto are also expected to be huge stars in the international scene with the airing of their shows “Krystala” and “Marina,” respectively, on Indonesia. “Marina,” a mermaid’s tale, is the country’s very first fantasy series (fantaserye) whose phenomenal success has spawned various shows of the same genre. “Krystala” features Judy Ann Santos like you’ve never seen her before: as the generation’s super heroine.

Bringing local programs overseas not only provides entertainment but also serves as a cure for the homesickness to our kababayans based abroad. The shows’ scenes bring overseas Filipinos a piece of home. Trexia, our kababayan based in Kenya, Africa, says, “[ever] since [ABS-CBN shows] were aired here, everyone's been asking me if I'm a Filipino, like their favorite characters in [the series]. Even in the capital city or nearby towns, people always make positive comments. It makes me feel more confident about being a Filipino!”

Other soap operas that are gaining hype abroad are “Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay (“The Long Wait”), “It Might Be You,” “Darating Ang Umaga” (Till Morning Comes), "Bituin" (Star), "Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako" (The Moment You Need Me), "Familia Zaragoza" and ABS-CBN’s long-running drama series “Maalaala Mo Kaya.” This slate of exceptional series has been changing the viewing habits of international audiences for many years now.

Eeewww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate all that shows eventhough it is now showing in africa what's the point they are not even showed in america or over the world and all that shows stinks korean shows much better cause many of there are artist are totally world class like RAIN and most of there singers top the Oricon Charts. I hate shows shown in ABS cause there just nothing compare to other stations like Arirang, KBS, MBC, SBS, YTN and others

I pity you, you only think that america is the world...
isn't africa part of the world to you?....

the reason why filipino soaps are hit in africa is that they see hope in filipino dramas because of their current state at the moment and because of their tragic history...

before you babble and post some negative comments, please read the comments posted by the moderator of this thread.
and please don't be too full of yourself, it's not just your opinion that matters, try to understand the situation of the people who love these shows, and that means the africans....

these shows have a great impact in their lives and here you are posting this kinds of comments.

see? this just goes to show how much other nations are interested in knowing more about the Filipino culture since, obviously, these dramas do portray (somewhat un/realistically) the lives of each and every Filipino and of course, the brilliant minds behind these

i would assume these dramas are carried by ABS-CBN? obviously, the line up are all ka-pamilya shows...

Eeewww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate all that shows eventhough it is now showing in africa what's the point they are not even showed in america or over the world and all that shows stinks korean shows much better cause many of there are artist are totally world class like RAIN and most of there singers top the Oricon Charts. I hate shows shown in ABS cause there just nothing compare to other stations like Arirang, KBS, MBC, SBS, YTN and others

I pity you, you only think that america is the world...
isn't africa part of the world to you?....

the reason why filipino soaps are hit in africa is that they see hope in filipino dramas because of their current state at the moment and because of their tragic history...

before you babble and post some negative comments, please read the comments posted by the moderator of this thread.
and please don't be too full of yourself, it's not just your opinion that matters, try to understand the situation of the people who love these shows, and that means the africans....

these shows have a great impact in their lives and here you are posting this kinds of comments.

Maybe she thinks that Africa's much poorer compared to her America and/or she's "Kapuso".